Boot,especially ski boot

ABSTRACT

A boot, especially ski boot, which comprises a hard-elastic outer shoe with a first step-in opening, and a relatively thickwalled soft-elastic inner shoe arranged within said outer shoe and consisting primarily of cellular polyurethane on the basis of polyester and having a spreadable second step-in opening extending up to the leg area of the inner shoe. Deformable chamber means are provided between the two shoes and are adapted to be filled with a viscous fluid while valve means are associated with the chamber means for selectively closing the same or feeding fluid into or withdrawing fluid from the chamber means.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,750,310 Messner et al. 45 A 7, 1973BOOT, ESPECIALLY SKI BOOT [56] References Cited [76] lnventors:Siegfried Messner, Linsinger Strasse UNITED STATES PATENTS Hammer;3,581,412 6/1971 Dalebout 36/2.5 AL "fl y", Auf def flochte'w, 30113,377,721 4/1968 Johnson 36/25 AL Garbsen; Lothar Barth, Elchsfelder3,521,385 7/1970 Dalebout 3612.5 AL Strasse 56, 3000 Hannoverf PrimaryExaminer-Patrick D. Lawson Josef Klmgenweg, 8260 Attorney-walter BeckerStein-a-Rhein, Switgerland [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21]Appl. No.: 240,383 A boot, especially ski boot, which comprises ahardelastic outer shoe with a first step-in opening, and a relativelythick-walled soft-elastic inner shoe arranged [30] Foreign ApplicationPriority Data within said outer shoe and consisting primarily of cellu-Apr. l, 197] Germany P 2] l5 907.9 lat polyurethane on the basis ofpolyester and having a 1971 Gemam/ P 21 17 469-6 spreadable secondstep-in opening extending up to the Apr. 21, 1971 Germany P 21 19 2347leg area of the inner shoe. Deformable chamber means Sept 197] Germany P21 44 825-9 are provided between the two shoes and are adapted to Sept.8, 1971 Germany P 21 44 3260 be filled with a viscous fluid while valvemeans are asso- 2 ciated with the chamber means for selectively closing[5 US. Cl. 36/25 AL the same or feeding fluid into or withdrawing fluidfrom Int. Cl. A43b the chamber meal Field of Search 3612.5 R, 2.5 A

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIE us 71915 SHEET 2 OF 4 PAIENIEU M133.750.310

SHEET 3 OF 4 FlG'B BOOT, ESPECIALLY SKI W007i" The presnt inventionrelates to a boot, especially ski boot, which comprises a hard-elasticouter shoe and an inserted thick-walled soft-elastic one-piece innershoe of preferably cellular material, and which is provided with astep-in opening, adapted to be spread open, on the inner as well as onthe outer shoe and is furthermore provided with at least one hollowchamber which in order to adapt the same to the shape of the foot may befilled with a filling substance, the hollow chamber being formed, forinstance, by an inflatable body closed by a valve, into which hollowbody through a mouth piece connected to the valve the filling substancemay be injected and may be released.

For adapting such ski boots to the shape of a foot, it is known to fillinto the inflatable body of the inner shoe a hardening foam after thefoot has been slipped into the boot. The adaptability of such known skiboots is also affected by an improper arrangement of the step-inopenings which, dpending on the size of the foot, can either not becompletely closed or cannot be closed tightly enough.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a boot,especially ski boot, of the above outlined general character which willovercome the above outlined drawbacks.

This object and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear more clearly from the following specification in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a vertical cross section through a ski boot according to theinvention, said section passing through the region of the ankle.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of FIG. 1 with the inner shoe adapted to theshape of the foot.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the inner shoe.

FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the inner shoe with a filling device.

FIG. 7 shows on a larger scale than that of FIGS. 1 to 6 a valve for usein connection with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of an outer shoe according to the inventionconsisting of two sections.

FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line IX IX of FIG. 8.

The boot according to the present invention, which has an inner shoe andan outer shoe, is characterized primarily in that the inner shoeconsists of cellular polyurethane on the basis of polyester while thefilling mass consists of a viscous liquid, the opening of the outer 1shoe being located in the vertical longitudinal central plane, and theopening of the inner shoe extending from the front of the central planetoward the rear while spreading laterally toward the side of the smalltoe, the marginal areas of the opening in their extension along the legoverlapping over half their sides. During the reaction oftoluenediisocyanate with polyester, a relatively soft but ratherunelastic polyurethane is formed which, when being subjected to apressure load,

is supposed to have a saddle-shaped characteristic curve. The viscousliquid forming the filling mass should be composed of from 70 to 80percent water, 27 to 17 percent glycerin or glycol and 3 percentcellulose derivate and should have a viscosity of from 15,000 to 20,000centipoise at room temperature. This liquid changes its viscosity onlyslightly with changing temperatures and is frost resistant attemperatures customary in ski areas. The cellulose derivate increasesthe viscosity of the liquid and is added until the above mentioned valueis obtained. The liquid which can easily be deformed without offeringany particular resistance acts together with a relatively strong butonly slightly elastic material which, when not considering any possibleshoe lining or thin cushioning layers, comes into direct contact withthe foot and due to the pressure of the liquid conforms to the shape ofthe foot. The only slight elasticity of the layer formed from thedescribed substances will together with the viscous liquid prevent achange in its once adopted shape, so that even when the boot is not wornfor days or even weeks, it will retain this shape. A change in the shapewill occur only when greater forces act upon the boot for a longerperiod of time, as is the case, for instance, when another person wearsthe boots for some time. An immediate considerable change in the shapecan always be effected by a new filling in of the liquid into the hollowchamber of the boot.

In addition to this surprisingly good adaptability and shape retainingproperty, the boot according to the invention has the further advantagethat the foot is very firmly rested in the boot. This is due in part tothe good shape retaining property of the boot and in part to the stronglayer of polurethane located between the foot and the liquid. The lowelasticity of this layer brings about a good connection to the shoe sothat the feeling of the foot floating in the boot is entirelyeliminated. The material of the layer should according to the rubbertechnology be a kind of dead material as is the case with rubber havinga high proportion of reclaimed rubber.

For purposes of further improving the adaptation of the boot to thefoot, the outer shoe is provided with a known gaping opening and with aflap covering up this opening. The inner shoe is likewise provided withan opening adpated to be spread open and offset with regard to theopening of the outer shoe. The opening of the inner shoe is designed asgaping opening in the region of the upper arched portion of the foot andas overlapping opening in the leg region. If, when closing the outershoe, the part above the upper arched foot portion is closed andtensioned, the gaping opening of the inner shoe will also close and theedge portions will be pressed against each other in a butt joint andtight manner. In this way no elevation can form which would interferewith the fit of the inner shoe because, when the opening edges abut eachother, a smooth almost gap-free surface is formed on the inside whileany possible upsetting is conveyed to the walls surrounding the entirefoot. That portion of the inner shoe, however, which surrounds the lowerleg is providing with overlapping sections at the step-in opening sincethe leg carries out angular movements relative to the foot and, morespecifically, in the ankle joint, even though these angular movementsare only small; these overlapping sections at the edges of the step-inopening will prevent that the opening will not be properly closed or agap is left open, with the result that always a proper closing of theboot will be assured. Thus, the foot which does not movein the shoe, isin a manner best suited more effectively sealed by the abutting edges orrims of the opening, whereas the leg area is sealed by overlappingopening sections which provide a better sealing of the working leg. Inaddition thereto, the entire opening of the inner shoe is offset withregard to the opening of the outer shoe so that in addition to thecomfort also an optimum sealing effect will be obtained.

According to the present invention, the viscous liquid is provided in aninflatable body which is arranged on the outer surface of the inner shoeand has a valve adapted selectively to permit the inlet or outlet of theviscous substance. The inner shoe is on its outside precisely adapted tothe shape of the outer shoe, whereas the inner side of the inner shoe isdesigned in conformity with the average shape of a foot. By acorresponding filling of the inflatable body, the inner shoe can beprecisely adapted to the shape of the foot of the respective wearer ofthe boot. To this end, there is provided a valve which for filling andemptying the inflatable body consists of a self-closing rubber elastichose piece the lining of which seals itself when it is punctured.

For filling the inflatable body, a hollow needle is directly orindirectly connected to a container containing the filling substance andis inserted into the valve or is pierced through the valve.

Finally, the further adaptability of the boot to the foot is assured byproviding the upper edge of the outer shoe with perforations or the likewhich make this part of the shoe more bending elastic than the remainingportion of the shoe, and by providing the inner shoe with a collar whichis angled off with regard to the leg and which has a sealing lip.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the boot illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 is composed primarily of two parts, namely an outer shoe 1 and aninserted inner shoe 2. The outer shape of the inner shoe 2 correspondsto the inner shape of the outer shoe 1. In those areas of the inner shoe2 where relative to the foot normally hollow spaces are present,recesses 3 are pro vided on each side as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.Into these recesses 3 there is inserted a single flexible and/orinflatable body 4 which covers up both sides of the inner shoe 2 and hasa fitting cut while being fastened to the inner shoe, for instance, byan adhesive. The body 4 which has its walls in flat superimposedarrangement with each other has its rear portion provided with a valve 5which comprises a thick-walled hose section with an insert, the hosesection being selfsealing. When through valve 5 a viscous liquid ispressed into the body 4, the inner shoe will adapt itself to the shapeof the foot and of the lower part of the leg 6 of the wearer of the bootas will be evident from FIG. 2. The inner shoe 2, regardless of whetherit is lined or not, is at its inner surface provided with a layer ofsoft cellular rubber of uniform thickness (not shown). This layer may,if desired, be connected to the lining and then together with the liningmay be connected to the inner shoe 2. Such layer has a thickness ofapproximately 2 mm and provides the inner walls of the inner shoe withan inner surface which snugly engages the foot but which is sufficientlythin to maintain the required firm contact of the foot with the innershoe.

The outer shoe is made of relatively hard polyurethane, for instance ofa hardness of 90 Shore A, and forms the outer shell or envelope of theski boot while being provided with an opening 7 The opening 7 is adaptedto be enlarged or spread open for the insertion of the inner shoe 2. Byproviding a non-illustrated flap, the opening 7 is closed and is held inthis position by customary closing means. The opening 7 is located inthe vertical longitudinal central plane of the boot and has a smallopening gap so that when closing the boot, the marginal areas of theopening 7 can be brought to meet each other.

The inner shoe 2 is provided with an opening 8 which starts directlybehind the toes and is offset in the direction toward the small toe withregard to the opening 7 of the outer shoe 1. In the region of the footproper, the opening 8 has its marginal rims slightly spaced apart sothat these marginal rims in finished condition of the inner shoe 2 willbe spaced from each other by a distance of approximately one half or 1centimeter. When closing the outer shoe, the marginal rims of theopening 7 are pressed against each other, whereby the region of the footcovered by the inner shoe 2 will be sealed toward the outside. Theopening 8 will accordingly, in conformity with FIG. 5, follow the line9. Above the foot portion, the opening 8 changes from a zone where therims of the opening are slightLy spaced from each other to a zone in thelower leg portion where the rims of the opening 8 overlap each other. Inthis leg zone, that rim of the opening 8 which starts at the side of thesmall toe ends in the end 10 engaging the leg, whereas that rim of theopening 8 which starts at the side of the large toe ends in the end 11resting from the outside on the end 10. The ends 10 and 11 graduallydecrease in thickness in the overlapping range so as to supplement theirrespective thickness to the full thickness of the boot wall.

For filling and emptying the body 4, a device is employed which is shownin FIG. 6. This device comprises primarily a valve 12 and a hollowneedle 13. Valve 12, shown in FIG. 7 on an enlarged scale, comprises ashort tubular section 14 with a collar 15 and a flange 16 which latterserves for connecting the valve 12 to the outer wall of the body 4.

For filling the body 4, the valve 12 is pierced by the hollow needle 13and the filling substance is passed therethrough. Inversely, by piercingvalve 12 with the hollow needle 13, filling substance can be withdrawnfrom the body 4. Each time the hollow needle 13 is withdrawn from thevalve 12, the material of valve 12 returns to its original position andthus seals the piercing hole.

The hollow needle 13 has its rear end provided with a hollow collar 17which has an inner thread by means of which the hollow collar 17 can beconnected to a feeding or discharge line. The front end of the hollowneedle 13 is closed. The two discharge openings 18 of the hollow needle13 which are directed toward the side and are located opposite to eachother will prevent that, when the hollow needle is stuck in too deeply,the inner wall of the body 4 is damaged or that the flow of the fillingsubstance will be impeded. FIG. 7 shows only one opening 18 inasmuch asthe other opening is located opposite to and behind the opening 18visible in FIG. 7.

As container for the filling substance there is employed a pressure can19 which at its head end has a valve adapted to be opened by exerting apressure thereon. The outlet tube 20 of can 19 is connected with thehollow collar 17 of needle 13. In the pressure can 19 there is provideda bellows 21 into which is filled the highly viscous liquid 22 formingthe filling substance. The space in the pressure can surrounding thebellows 21 is filled with nitrogen at a pressure of approximately 3atmospheres above atrnosphereic pressure, which when actuating the valveforces the liquid 22 from the bellows 211 through the hollow needle 13into the body d.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a special design of the outer shoe according to theinvention. In comformity with FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper margin or rim ofthe outer shoe ll has perforations 23 which weaken the connection of therim portion with the remaining wall portions of the shoe and therebymake the rim more yieldable. The perforations 23 are located on bothankle sides of the outer shoe 1; the rear portion of the outer shoe 1 isformed by a non-weakened rim connected to the remaining wall portions.Ther rear rim portion is separated from the perforated rim portions bycutouts 24.

According to FIG. 9, the inner shoe 2 ends at the upper rim, whichlatter has the shape of a collar, in a sealing lip 25 which in its restposition extends considerably inwardly and after placing the foot intothe boot closely engages the same. If the foot is inserted into the bootat an angle, the sealing lip 25 will due to its considerably inwardlyextending protruding section remain in engagement with the leg. Theinner shoe 2 isfurthermore provided with protrusions or dogs 26 whichwhen inserting the inner shoe into the outer shoe, will engage thecutouts 23 or latch thereto. The protrusions 26 will retain the innershoe 2 in its intended position and will prevent the inner shoe fromlifting itself off or separating from the outer shoe at the upper marginso that a possible entrance of moisture will be eliminated.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but alsocomprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

11. A boot, especially ski boot, which includes: a hardelastic outershoe having a spreadable first step-in opening extending along thecentral longitudinal plane thereof, a relatively thick-walledsoft-elastic inner shoe consisting of a single piece and located withinsaid outer shoe, said inner shoe consisting primarily of cellularpolyurethane on the basis of polyester and having a spreadable secondstep-in opening extending from the front portion of the inner shoe atthe longitudinal central plane thereof toward the rear of said innershoe while gaping laterally toward the small toe side, the rim areas ofsaid second step-in opening in the leg area of said inner shoe havingportions laterally overlapping each other, deformable chamber meansbeing provided between said shoes and adapted selectively to be tilledwith a viscous liquid internally thereof, and valve means associatedwith said chamber means for selectively closing said chamber means andfeeding liquid into and releasing the same from said chamber means.

2. A boot according to claim 3, in which said chamber means isdeformable by admitting thereinto a highly viscous liquid.

3. A boot, especially ski boot, which includes: a hard elastic outershoe having a spreadable first step-in opening extending along thecentral longitudinal plane thereof, a relatively thick-walledsoft-elastic inner shoe consisting of a single piece and located withinsaid outer shoe, said inner shoe consisting primarily of cellularpolyurethane on the basis of polyester and having a spreadable secondstep-in opening extending from the front portion of the inner shoe atthe longitudinal central plane thereof toward the rear of said innershoe while gaping laterally toward the small toe side, the rim areas ofsaid second step-in opening in the leg area of said inner shoe halflaterally overlapping each other, deformable chamber means beingprovided between said shoes and adapted selectively to be filled with aviscous fluid, and valve means associated with said chamber means forselectively closing said chamber means and feeding fluid into andreleasing same from said chamber means, the end of the inner one of therim areas overlapping each other extending from the small toe side ofthe inner shoe while decreasing in thickness with increasing distancefrom said small toe side and having the inner surface of said endadapted to the outer contour of the lower leg portion of a person.

d. A boot according to claim 3, in which said chamber means contains ahighly viscous liquid composed of from approximately 7.0 to percent ofwater, from 27 to 17 percent of ethylene glycol, and of approximately 3percent cellulose derivate, said viscous liquid having a viscosity offrom 15,000 to 20,000 Centipoise at room temperature.

5. A boot according to claim 3, in which said chamber means is formed byan inflatable body interposed between said inner and outer shoe.

6. A boot according to claim 3, in which said valve means includes atubular element with a rubber elastic self-sealing insert.

7. A boot according to claim 6, in which the interior of the hollowneedle has lateral passage means leading into said chamber means. i

3. A boot according to claim 3, in which the upper marginal area of saidouter shoe is provided with perforation means to thereby make said uppermarginal area more bend elastic than the remaining wall portion of saidouter shoe, and in which the upper portion of said inner shoe formingthe leg region thereof is provided with collar means angled off towardthe leg region and having a sealing tip.

9. A boot according to claim 8, in which the upper portion of the innershoe is provided with protrusion means corresponding in shape to saidperforation means for interlocking engagement therewith.

2. A boot according to claim 3, in which said chamber means isdeformable by admitting thereinto a highly viscous liquid.
 3. A boot,especially ski boot, which includes: a hard elastic outer shoe having aspreadable first step-in opening extending along the centrallongitudinal plane thereof, a relatively thick-walled soft-elastic innershoe consisting of a single piece and located within said outer shoe,said inner shoe consisting primarily of cellular polyurethane on thebasis of polyester and having a spreadable second step-in openingextending from the front portion of the inner shoe at the longitudinalcentral plane thereof toward the rear of said inner shoe while gapinglaterally toward the small toe side, the rim areas of said secondstep-in opening in the leg area of said inner shoe half laterallyoverlapping each other, deformable chamber means being provided betweensaid shoes and adapted selectively to be filled with a viscous fluid,and valve means associated with said chamber means for selectivelyclosing said chamber means and feeding fluid into and releasing samefrom said chamber means, the end of the inner one of the rim areasoverlapping each other extending from the small toe side of the innershoe while decreasing in thickness with increasing distance from saidsmall toe side and having the inner surface of said end adapted to theouter contour of the lower leg portion of a person.
 4. A boot accordingto claim 3, in which said chamber means contains a highly viscous liquidcomposed of from approximately 70 to 80 percent of water, from 27 to 17percent of ethylene glycol, and of approximately 3 percent cellulosederivate, said viscous liquid having a viscosity of from 15,000 to20,000 CentipoiSe at room temperature.
 5. A boot according to claim 3,in which said chamber means is formed by an inflatable body interposedbetween said inner and outer shoe.
 6. A boot according to claim 3, inwhich said valve means includes a tubular element with a rubber elasticself-sealing insert.
 7. A boot according to claim 6, in which theinterior of the hollow needle has lateral passage means leading intosaid chamber means.
 8. A boot according to claim 3, in which the uppermarginal area of said outer shoe is provided with perforation means tothereby make said upper marginal area more bend elastic than theremaining wall portion of said outer shoe, and in which the upperportion of said inner shoe forming the leg region thereof is providedwith collar means angled off toward the leg region and having a sealingtip.
 9. A boot according to claim 8, in which the upper portion of theinner shoe is provided with protrusion means corresponding in shape tosaid perforation means for interlocking engagement therewith.